Recap | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 15

Warriors blitz the Magpies in a 30-point overhaul

Bethany Conlon

Game Summary

The Warriors have defeated the Western Suburbs Magpies in an impressive 36-6 win at Leichhardt Oval this afternoon.

It wasn’t until the 27th minute that the Leichardt crowd saw points, after a ruck infringement from the Magpies saw the Warriors shift the ball out wide for winger Motu Pasikala to score in the 27th minute.

Fullback Taine Tuaupiki successfully kicked the conversion (6-0).

A dummy and run by Warriors halfback Luke Hanson caught the Magpies off guard to find the line and score to extend the lead out to 12 points (12-0).

Magpie’s defenders seemed to miss their assignment when they failed to field a Warriors bomb, allowing the visitors to regather the ball before forward Harry Durbin crossed in the 56th minute (18-0).

The Warriors were well on top of the contest 60 minutes in, when Pasikala busted through five Magpies defenders to dive over the line for his double (24-0).

The visitors had their tails up as edge-backrower Leka Halasima added another four points to the board, regahering the ball off a fifth play kick to find the line (30-0).

The lead was extended out to 30 points through forward  Rodney Tuipulotuvea burrowed over the line before Tuaupiki successfully converted his sixth conversion of the day – the fullback being perfect off the tee the whole match.

It wouldn’t be a scoreless afternoon for the home team, with a last-ditch effort from hooker Bailey Hodges. Backing himself, the dummy-half put through a chip and chase to score under the sticks in the 72nd minute to have the game finish at 36-6.

Talking Points

Adam Doueihi made his rugby league return for the first time in over 400 days, trying his best to make an impact on the side. With 2 tackle busts, a forced drop out and 419 kick metres, he made his case for a return to first grade very soon.

Key Moment

It was ominous signs for the Magpies when Warriors winger, Motu Pasikala had the opposition reeling, bumping off five defenders to score in the 60th minute. The play exposing the Magpies headspace as they went on to lose the match 36-6.

What’s Next?

In Round 16 the Warriors head home to take on the 7th placed St George Dragons. Whilst the Magpies face off against the 5th placed Canterbury Bulldogs.

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders

Wet conditions deliver shock draw in Redfern

Sam Kosack

Game Summary

An undisciplined Canberra Raiders have tied with the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a wet and windy day at Redfern Oval. 

The Raiders led for 60 total minutes before repeated errors opened the door for the Rabbits to potentially steal the game, as the largely NRL-untested side stood up to the might of Canberra's first grade experience.

The opening try came the way of Rabbitohs’ winger Brandon Mansfield-Webster in the eighth minute. Five-eighth Dion Teaupa executed a perfectly weighted grubber that split the Raiders’ defence, putting the home side up 4-0.

It wouldn’t take long for the ladder leaders to respond, largely in part due to a barnstorming 25 metre run from former Queensland Origin representative Corey Horsburgh that gave the Raiders field position and momentum. Two plays later, captain Hohepa Puru strolled over untouched off an Adrian Trevilyan dummy half pass for a 2-point lead. 

The Raiders raced out to a 12-4 score line four minutes later when powerful centre James Schiller burst through the Rabbitohs defence to race 60 metres and score under the black dot (12-4).

Silky footwork from Rabbitohs’ halfback Jarrett Subloo reduced the deficit to two with 10 minutes left in the half. Subloo stepped off his left foot, bamboozling defenders and putting Ryan Gray in a hole to score.

However, it wouldn't take long for the Raiders to respond, with the experience of Horsburgh delivering Canberra their third try in the 33rd minute. Horsburgh cut back under halfback Adam Cook, catching a sliding Souths defence off guard and powering his way over for an 8-point lead. 

Raiders five-eighth Manaia Waitere was sin-binned with two minutes remaining in the half for a late and dangerous lifting tackle. However, some bruising Canberra defence and a failed late field goal from Adam Cook would ensure the halftime score remained at 18-10. 

Repeated Raiders’ errors in their own half gifted Souths’ mountains of possession on their line, eventually cracking to a diving Jude Saldanha try in the 51st minute. Teaupa missed the conversion from the sideline leaving the Rabbits’ four points down. 

It would take until the 75th minute for either side to score again. Canberra struggled all game with ball control in the wet conditions.

A mistake from Albert Hopoate fielding a kick on his own line opened the door for Saldanha to dive on the bouncing ball and score his second.

Teaupa’s kick hit the upright, tying the game at 18-all, where it would remain until full-time. 

Talking Points

• Jarrett Subloo steered the Rabbitohs around well, while young fullback CJ Mundine was electric around the ball. 
• Adam Cook’s kicking game proved troublesome for Souths’ all game, while the Raiders’ first-grade contingent of Horsburgh, Schiller, Hopoate, and Peter Hola had moments of class in crucial moments that kept the visitors in the game. 

Key Moment

The final try to Jude Saldahna ultimately tied the game for the Rabbitohs, resulting in a major upset. Souths had been controlled with the ball and their discipline delivered positive results in the end. 

What’s Next?

Both sides have a one-week turnaround before their next match, with the Raiders playing the Eels away while Souths take on Blacktown at home. 

Newtown Jets v North Sydney Bears

North Sydney Bears win nail-biter

Ella Mullins

Game Summary

The North Sydney Bears have defeated the Newtown Jets despite a late comeback 16-12 at Henson Park today.

Newtown were in favour to snatch up the first set of points after a penalty for a high tackle saw the Jets make their way to inside their 10 metre mark. The hosts, who held the momentum, lost the ball before they could capitalise, and a turnover was awarded.

North Sydney opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through five eighth Harradyn Wilson who kicked a grubber towards the inside goal area for prop Kurt De Luis to regather and score (6-0).

The Bears found the line once again only five minutes later, with some slick passes out to the right to find the hands of centre Matt Stimson who scored (12-0).

Despite Newtown’s efforts to put numbers on the scoreboard, they walked into the sheds at halftime trailing behind 12-0.

In the opening minutes of the second half, centre Kieran Hayman successfully locked away a penalty goal after Jets forward Billy Magoulias was put on report for lifting Josh Bevan in a tackle.

Magoulias got his redemption when he returned to the field in the 50th minute taking on the line on the fifth play to find the line (14-6).

The Bears extended their lead further through another penalty goal which Hayman successfully kicked (16-6).

With less than five minutes remaining, Jets captain Billy Burns found his way to the line to bring his team to only a four point deficit.

Despite the Jets best efforts in the final four minutes of the game, it was too little too late and the Bears took home a 16-12 point win.

Talking Points

• Kieran Hayman had an outstanding game, securing eight points for this match – the most out of any player on the field.
• The Bears were quick off the back foot and dominated the game early on with ruthless attack and tenacious defensive efforts.
• The last-minute comeback from the Jets was admirable and the try from Billy Burns was an electrifying effort from the young second rower, but errors throughout the match lowered the chances at bringing home a win.

Key Moment

North Sydney’s back-to-back rampage resulting in 12 points set the tone for a difficult game for the Jets to contend with. The Bears sharp attacking sets and discipline ultimately proved to be too much of an advantage for the Newtown Jets to dismantle.

What’s Next?

The Newtown Jets will venture to BlueBet Stadium in Penrith next weekend for Saturday afternoon rugby against the Panthers. The North Sydney Bears will play the bye with a week off.

Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters

Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers

Newcastle put Penrith to the sword

Mason Cernoy

Game Summary

The Newcastle Knights were in their element this afternoon, putting 42 points on the out-of-form Penrith Panthers - who have now lost six-consecutive matches – to win 42-22 in Round 15.

In a game dominated by the Novocastrians, it was Penrith who had the run of play early on. Following a stray offload thrown by Krystian Mapapalangi which resulted in a cheap penalty being awarded to Penrith, Peachey summed things up well on the left, sending Nick Murphy over for the opening points of the afternoon.

The two sides engaged straight into an arm wrestle after this, with the ball travelling to both ends of the field. It took a seven-tackle set, followed by a penalty for Newcastle to get onto the board. Sebastian Su’a took a mammoth carry near the line and threw a loose offload on his way down, which Zack Lamont attempted to scoop up but juggled backwards, allowing Will Pryce to pounce on the ball and put his side on the board. Pryce converted to lead 6-4.

Penrith conceded another penalty off the kick-off, and just as they were losing the territory battle, Hayden Sutton poured through a gap and hit Thomas Jenkins on his outside to make it 12 points in less than five minutes.

The gears started turning for Newcastle after this, with Thomas Cant producing a brilliant offload after bending the line to put Mapapalangi over in the corner, before Pryce threw a wonderful double-pump cut-out ball to David Armstrong to extend the halftime score-line to 24-4.

In the second half Newcastle picked up from where they left off, when a seven-tackle set allowed them to march upfield, where Krystian Mapapalangi produced a try from absolutely nothing in the 45th minute.

Following this, the Knights received a few more attacking sets, but Penrith were good enough to turn them away, where they were eventually rewarded with an error from Kyle McCarthy in the act of returning a kick.

Met with their first attacking chance of the half, Penrith quickly turned the ball over, where David Armstrong caught their defence napping. As soon as the Knights had possession back, Armstrong was able to speed through the defensive line untouched and run 80 metres to extend the lead to 36-4.

With little left to play for other than for pride, the Penrith Panthers did not shy away from the contest. Tyrone Peachey took matters into his own hands, scoring two sneaky tries out of dummy-half, giving his side a 12-point boost in just three minutes.

There was life in the Panthers all of a sudden, and they were rolling down the field with ease. After forcing Newcastle to concede a few errors to shut them down, they eventually found their fourth try of the day when a barnstorming Jordan Grant steamrolled Su’a to crash over underneath the posts.

It was a spirited fightback from Penrith, but it was simply too little, too late, and when Liam Sutton sliced through the line with a simple show and go in the 78th minute, Newcastle finished the match with a well-deserved 20-point win.

Talking Points

• Thomas Cant had spiders on him this afternoon, with his physicality causing headaches for Penrith all day.
• Penrith’s discipline gave the Knights too many chances, with penalties leading to the first two tries scored by Newcastle, and all their tries which followed coming off the back of errors.
• Tyrone Peachey had a strong showing in a losing side, notching up two tries and a try assist.

Key Moment

Krystian Mapapalangi’s second try was a great individual effort which put victory out of reach for the visitors. When Will Pryce gave him the ball, he was flat-footed and had 4 defenders trying to take him down, but he managed to outmuscle them all and force the ball down for an impressive four-pointer that really set the tone for the second half.

What’s Next?

Next Saturday the Knights will be taking on the Sydney Roosters at Central Coast Stadium, and the Panthers will return home to host the Newtown Jets.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v St George Illawarra Dragons

Condon hat-trick helps Sea Eagles overcome Dragons

Anthony Eltarraf

Game Summary

The Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles secured a well-deserved 26-14 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons this afternoon, with Ben Condon scoring an impressive hat-trick to help his side to the victory.

The Dragons kicked off the scoring in the 11^th minute following a Dylan Egan break, before Benjamin Johnson finished it off between the posts.

It took just seven minutes for the Sea Eagles to respond through a crash play, with Condon powering over to bring the score within two. Condon scored his second as halftime loomed, running a perfect line off a brilliant ball from Jamie Humphreys. Condon’s first half double saw the Sea Eagles take a 10-6 lead into half time.

The hosts carried the momentum through to the second half, scoring ten minutes in through a strong and clever effort from Clayton Faulalo.

A right side shift saw Watson Heleta go over near the posts, before Dragons’ Sione Finau raced away on the left edge to bring the game within two converted tries.

A late consolation try in the 73^rd minute for the Dragons came after Ben Condon secured his hat-trick with another powerful effort off a short ball. Condon’s hat-trick sealed a deserving 26-14 victory for the Sea Eagles over the Dragons at HE Laybutt Field.

Talking Points

• Ben Condon terrorised the Dragons’ right-side defence with his powerful running seeing him score three past the visitors.
• The Sea Eagles’ spine simply outclassed a lacklustre Dragons defence, with the halves really leading the hosts around the pitch.
• The Dragons showed some spark in attack, but the Red V will have to focus on their defensive structure if they are to bounce back from the loss.

Key Moment

Ben Condon’s last of his three tries proved crucial as it secured his side’s 12-point victory over the Dragons. Condon was able to power his way over the try-line twice already, but a third effort off a short ball in the 70^th minute proved too much for the Dragons to come back from.

What’s Next?

The Sea Eagles are on the road next week as they face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, while the Dragons fly over to Auckland as they look to bounce back against the Warriors.